Matt Beard issues Liverpool Women warning ahead of crucial Everton clash
Matt Beard has warned his Liverpool Women’s side that “form goes out the window” in Merseyside derbies as they prepare to face Everton on Sunday.
The Reds will travel to Goodison Park [17 November] for the final time ahead of Everton completing the long-awaited move to the Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium at the end of the campaign.
Ahead of the short trip, Beard said in his weekly column via the club’s official website [14 November] that he wants his side to rise above the occasion, and he is well aware the hosts will be eager to claim their first Women’s Super League victory of the campaign.
He said: “We haven’t had much fortune playing Everton in recent league games and I thought we were desperately unlucky to lose 1-0 to them at Anfield last season. I also remember Leighanne Robe’s goal at Goodison Park when it was disallowed.
“Form goes out of the window in these games. We’ve just got to make sure that we outrun them and outfight them. We know we’ve got the quality in our team to hurt them.
“We are well aware that this will be one of the last derbies ever to be played at Goodison Park, but our only concern is going there and getting three points on Sunday.
“It’s like anything, you’ve got to play the game and not the occasion. We know our supporters will be loud and get behind the team, and we hope to make you proud.”
Liverpool could slip on an eggshell against Everton
The Reds were comprehensively beaten 3-0 against Chelsea at St Helens last time out as the side’s inconsistent start to the WSL campaign continues.
While they may have been without star midfielder Fuka Nagano and forward Sophie Roman Haug for the contest, last season’s champions proved how far Liverpool are from challenging at the top of the table.
The Reds were handed a “tough” start to the campaign and have already faced Chelsea and Manchester City but still, the clash against the latter at Anfield yielded a more positive performance despite the 2-1 defeat.
Everton are yet to win a match this term and sit firmly at the foot of the WSL table, having managed to score only three goals in their last 10 outings, including a 0-0 draw in the Merseyside derby in September.
Brian Sorensen has already taken points off Liverpool this season and will be aiming to go one step further on home soil this time around – the visitors will have to be at the top of their game to return to St Helens with the three points secure.
The occasion will be emotional for the hosts and this will certainly fuel the desire to end the final women’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park with a victory.
Beard has consistently outed his side for their inability to convert chances this year, and the contest certainly plays into the Blues’ hands heading into the weekend with forward Olivia Smith underperforming as of late.
In other Liverpool news, the Reds have confirmed Jarell Quansah’s international news via an official announcement.
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